MSC Sisters Founding Legacies in Korea
In the 1960s, Korea was a barren and poor land and ruins of war had not been restored. In March 1965, when the nation had just taken a step towards economic growth, two German MSC Missionary Sisters, Edelgith and Vocata, arrived in Busan. They came to Korea with the fire of Christ in their hearts and lived enthusiastically as stated in the scriptures, “I have come to set the earth on fire” (Lk 12:49). These two sisters bore witness to the word of Father Linckens, “For this Heart you are in the midst of the world. ”
The first temporary residence for our founders was the former U.S. Embassy in Sejong-dong, which belonged to the Diocese of Busan. The sisters first visited the poor and marginalized people, the sick and lonely to enhance their human and spiritual dignity. They also gave catechesis at the local parish church. These first missionaries could communicate with anyone, even though they had difficulties with the Korean language.
Sr. Edelgith was the first superior of the Korean Community/District from 1965 to 1977. She led the community with her open and progressive leadership, broad perspective, and vision. Her cheerful, out-going personality and great sense of humor made her adaptable and friendly in any situation. She always brought joy to those around her with laughter. It must have been a big challenge for her to adapt to a new language and culture in her 50s, though she never expressed any difficulties. She loved to sing and was often seen humming Psalm 18, “I love you, LORD, my strength.”
As a pioneer of the founding time, she intended to cultivate the dry soil into a fruitful land. She focused on the education and formation of early members so they could be reborn in their faith as mature believers. In the early days of the Korean District, formandees were sent to Germany or the international formation house in Italy. From 1968 to 1975, instead of receiving applicants, Sr. Edelgith provided opportunities for professional training and education to the sisters who returned to Korea after making their first vows. She planned this so that many members could work with proper qualifications in their respective ministries.
When celebrating the Korean MSC Sisters’ 25th Anniversary of the Foundation and her Golden Jubilee, Sr. Edelgith recalled, “As the general administration decided to send missionaries to Korea, Sr. Clarita, a German, and the General Superior at that time, told us only one thing: “Go to Korea and see what God wants from us.” Still today, the MSC mission in Korea reflects the words of Our Lady at the wedding at Cana, “Do whatever he tells you.” Her words have become the cornerstone for our missionary journey in Korea.
As the local sisters took over the administration in 1977, Sr. Edelgith moved to the novitiate located in the rural area called Eonyang and traveled between the novitiate and the motherhouse in Busan. She cooperated in the administrative work and the formation at all levels.
Sr. Vocata, who became a missionary in Korea in her 40s, had a gentle personality and was an educator with sensitivity and rational thinking. Her linguistic talent was outstanding. In October 1972, she began to teach German as a professor and a founding member of the newly established German Language Education Department at the Busan National University (BNU) near the Motherhouse. She was a member of the German Language and Literature Department for 27 years. She also taught Latin for Pre-Medical Science at the BNU from 1972 to 1983, German Culture and Language at the DongEui University, the Busan University of Foreign Studies, and a University in Guangzhou, China. In the 1970s, when there was no material for German and Latin, she worked on the lecture materials by herself and made them into textbooks. A fellow professor at the BNU recalled this about her: “She was a person of accurate discernment and insight into current matters with bright wisdom and judgment. Also, she was a warm-hearted person, and her words and actions were simple and evident.”
Sr. Vocata approached everyone as a close friend and lived a life caring for the poor with a motherly heart. Sr. Vocata was convinced that “the origin of all religion is one” and every human is a brother and sister before God. Therefore, she enjoyed meeting every religious group and sharing the fundamentals of religion.
The contribution of her talents was not limited to teaching at the universities but wherever it was needed. She taught German at ‘Hankook Dockyard (1969-1971), Handok Technical Training Center (1972-1977), and Hyundai Dockyard in Ulsan (1977-1978). Besides these formal classes, she invited many people to watch German movies followed by discussion time and offered Bible study groups in German and English for the students and professors at the Universities. For her clear explanation of the scriptures, Sr. Vocata was known as an excellent interpreter of the Holy Bible.
Sr. Vocata also showed great compassion and love for the poor, working among Vietnamese refugee camps at Suyeong Bay in Busan. For a long time, she accompanied underprivileged students and people with handicaps to help them build a new place to live and she made great efforts to provide tuition for them.
Sr. Vocata devoted herself to the universities and the local community as a professor, a religious, and an ambassador. With her missionary zeal, she lived a life that fully responded to the call of our times as a founding member of the Korean Community. She lived as a missionary according to these passages from the MSC Sisters’ Constitutions: “In the light of the Gospel, we respond to the needs of our day” (Constitutions 8), “We pro-claim God’s love in our ministry among those who do not yet know Christ and His Church, … and in our support of those whose faith needs strengthening” (Constitutions 9).
Two founding pioneers of the Korean Community, Sr. Edelgith and Sr. Vocata, were Missionaries of God. They sought the will of God with open and awakened hearts and devoted themselves accordingly. Since they received their first call, “Go to Korea and see what God wants from us, ” they carefully discerned the needs of the time in Korea, sought the way wisely, and poured out all their passion. They became “gifts of God” to the Korean Community, and their legacies continue to encourage Korean MSC Sisters to seek and live with the same mission in accord with present needs. With an open heart to the will of God, wise discernment, compassion for humanity, and the spirit of passion and devotion lived by Sisters Edelgith and Vocata, MSC Sisters of the 21st century live a renewed and inspired mission as Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION
- When you get in touch (emotionally, spiritually) with this story, what do you admire and value about the way these sisters lived the MSC mission in the context of their time? (Identify 3 points)
- What are the urgent needs in our world today to which we are called and best suited to respond?